NOLLYWOOD VETERAN, FRANCIS DURU DIES AT 57

Read Time:1 Minute, 35 Second

Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has passed away at the age of 57 after a short illness.His family shared the sad news on his official Instagram page early Friday morning, thanking fans and supporters for their love and encouragement.

“We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness.

“We appreciate your prayers, love, and understanding. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen,” the statement read.

Duru’s death comes months after he dismissed reports that he was battling a life-threatening illness.

In June, concern spread among fans and colleagues after a video showing the actor looking frail circulated on social media.

Responding to the reports, Duru shared a video on Instagram in which he described the footage as “fabricated and malicious”.

Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru completed his primary and secondary education in the country before relocating to Nigeria for university studies.

He was admitted to the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, where he studied Theatre Arts and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.

Duru started his acting career in 1989 with the film *Missing Mark*, directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko.

He gained more attention in 1995 after appearing in *Rattlesnake*, an action–comedy film produced by the late Amaka Igwe. In this film, he played the character Ahanna.

Throughout his career, Duru received several awards and honors for his contributions to the Nigerian film industry. He was also honored as a United Nations ambassador of peace for his positive influence on young people.